Online Accelerated Nursing Coursework
If you’re like many nursing students, you want to spend as little time as possible stuck in traffic or looking for a parking spot so you can focus on what really matters — your academic success. The innovative 16-month Accelerated BSN track at the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) will help you to achieve this goal by blending online accelerated nursing coursework with all-important hands-on experiences, giving you the best of both worlds.
How Online Nursing Classes Work
Rather than attending daily lectures on campus, you’ll complete your nursing theory coursework through our Canvas learning management system (LMS) platform. This cutting-edge E-learning technology gives you the flexibility to read, study, answer practice questions and complete assignments according to your own schedule.
You’ll work through a set curriculum alongside your classmates under the instruction of our nursing faculty, so you can expect due dates and scheduled exams. However, as long as you complete your assignments by the due dates, it doesn’t matter whether you do your coursework at 8 a.m. or 3 p.m. You can also study where you learn best, be it a favorite coffee shop or your living room.
The Benefits of Online Coursework
While the freedom to “go to class” when and where you prefer is an appealing benefit of online learning, it’s hardly the only advantage. Not everyone learns the same way, which is why we developed our online-based curriculum to facilitate a variety of learners:
- Auditory — Audio demonstrations and scenarios enable you to hear conditions (such as crackles, an irregular heartbeat, etc.), listen to patients talk about their symptoms and medical backgrounds, and more.
- Social — Our Canvas LMS features discussion forums, online Q&A sessions, virtual office hours and review sessions, and a built-in chat function so learners and instructors can connect with each other.
- Tactile — Task-based exercises (such as drag-and-drop activities) and interactive simulations make students active participants in the learning process.
- Visual — Rich imagery, illustrations and videos enable learners to visualize concepts and procedures.
All of this, along with the accessibility of UIW nursing instructors and the ability to revisit course materials, helps to ensure that content is interactive and engaging. The online accelerated nursing classes are built so you can better absorb and retain information.
Online Program FAQs
While online courses offer several advantages over traditional educational methods, you may still have questions regarding how these courses work in relation to nursing school. Well, here are the answers to some of the most common questions students ask.
Is the ABSN 100% online?
No, the ABSN track is a hybrid of online and in-person education. Becoming a registered nurse requires more than just conceptual knowledge; you need hands-on experience. Our 16-month nursing track combines online nursing theory coursework with hands-on skills and simulation labs as well as clinical rotations in and around the greater San Antonio community.
What type of student performs best with this hybrid accelerated learning format?
An ABSN track is not for everyone. Ideal accelerated nursing students are highly motivated, organized and driven. While you will have a set lab and clinical schedule, completing the online coursework by the set deadlines is your responsibility. For this reason, many accelerated BSN students swear by their personal calendars. Also critical to your success? A willingness to ask for help when you don’t understand something.
Our dedicated instructors and faculty are here to help you succeed and will go out of their way to assist you; however, successful nursing students take the initiative to reach out if they have questions.
What if I don’t understand the material or have a technical issue with the LMS?
Our online learning management software has proved to be incredibly effective for our students. But, should you encounter any issues with Canvas, our E-learning platform technical support team will be on call to help you.
Our instructors are also available to assist you with any questions regarding the course content. You’ll have easy access to them so you can stay on top of the material. In fact, our instructors go out of their way to ensure you have the support you need, whether by phone, email, text or via in-person or virtual office hours.
Will I have a way of getting to know my cohort?
Yes, our students interact with their peers regularly through in-person skills and simulation labs. You’ll get to know each other through online coursework discussions, Q&A sessions and in-person exams. The ABSN facility is also available for student use, enabling our students to meet frequently with classmates for group studying sessions.
For More Information
Contact our admissions team to find out more about how our online accelerated nursing coursework prepares you for a career in nursing.